Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Wednesday, January 14, 2015    

[Marguerite Bourgeoys, Educator of women and girls in New France, 17^th century]

Jeremiah 1, 4 – 12

Today, as the Church remembers Marguerite Bourgeoys who left her home in France, to live with and teach the poorer women and children of the new colony in what is now Montreal, we read of God’s call to Jeremiah: “Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you.  Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you. A prophet to the nations – that’s what I had in mind for you.” (The Message, v.5)

Jeremiah’s response is probably not that surprising, Who, me? Surely not!  He says, “I’m just a boy!” (6)  I wonder if Marguerite had a similar reaction of surprise, disbelief and fear.

God replies, “Don’t say [that]… Don’t be afraid… I’ll be right there, looking after you…I’ve given you a job to do.” (7 – 9)

The final piece of the conversation is treated by The Message with a bit of verbal humour:  Jeremiah is asked what he sees –“ a walking stick, that’s all. Good eyes,  [says God,] I’m sticking with you.” (11-12)

Two main things strike me: first, God’s rejection of the term “I’m only”.  How often we can put ourselves or others down with a dismissive “only”. (only a kid, only a woman, only a …) That is truly a four letter word!

Second:  just as God knew Jeremiah from the very beginning, and had a job for him to do, so I am sure God knows each of us and has a job for us to do for Him. We bare all called to share God’s love in the world.  We may not be sent oversees, or have a job that gets us memorialized on the church calendar, but it is just as important to God that we accept His job and give it our best.  We can also be sure that God will “stick with us” just as He promised Jeremiah and, I am sure, Marguerite.

Let’s not be afraid, but like others we have read of in the Bible, like Samuel, reply with “Yes, I’m ready.”

Blessings

Ann Kelland